“My name is Jacky Lengenfelder.  I graduated from University of Maryland, College Park in 1990 with a B.S. in Elementary Education.  I grew up in Prince George’s County and work for its school system now.  I like traveling back to my “home” every morning.  Last year, I contacted CLARK Construction Company, who was building an apartment complex across the street from my school, and asked them to partner with me and provide supplies for my students to make a crane like the one they were using on site.  They agreed and went above and beyond!  They created a mural to culminate the activity and I took the students on a field trip to learn about the construction process!  Definitely the highlight of my teaching career!”

1. What led to you becoming a STEM Specialist, and what did you teach prior to that role?

I started teaching Prince George’s County Public Schools in 2011 as a math and science teacher.  Within two years, I enrolled in the first STEM leadership and teaching cohort at the Notre Dame University in Baltimore.  All the classes were in person and very hands-on.  We essentially took senior year of high school science classes with all the labs included to learn all the content, then focused on lots of engineering challenges.  I learned the Engineering Design Process by researching the history of the Jones Falls Waterway to find out what type of trash came from that area into the Inner Harbor.  I was embarrassed at the presentation that everyone else had researched other trash collection machines instead of what trash was to be collected!  

2. What is a typical day like for you - do you have students you see daily, or is it more of a collaborative effort with teachers (or both)?

After I got my Masters in STEM, this STEAM job opened up and it was meant for me!  I see 3 classes a day on average and they work in groups of three to solve challenges.  I am alone in my room with my students and have a beautiful lab with lots of windows and tons of materials.

3. What is your favorite lesson or activity that you have shared with students in the past year? 

This year I started teaching the Project Lead the Way Launch Program.  I love it.  It starts with an introductory story and moves into three activities for students to explore to learn more about aspects of the final challenge, but not spot on yet.  The program works in a roundabout way to enrich the students with lots of information so when the final challenge comes into play they have prior knowledge to bring in….. and they use it!

4. What is your favorite part about your job?  

I love listening to the students talk to each other.  I hear them “arguing” about why this isn’t going to work and defending their reasoning by showing the other student while manipulating materials.  I like to hear them rephrasing the criteria to tell their group: “We aren’t done yet, the LEGO man keeps falling out of the swing!”

Thank you so much, Jacky!